Loud & Low 8th Gen Civic - Time to say good bye to her.

[Tecomah]

Looks like your using all available trunk space. It's nice to see someone taking their time and doing it right the first time

[scooter99]

And then some I think! LOL.

Yeah I was hoping to keep some space, for groceries if needed, or to throw my girls backpacks back there, or something like that. Was hoping for some room for golf clubs, but that's just not going to be possible with the battery racks. That's ok, I can put those in the back seat.

BTW, Page 50 woot! LMAO

[scooter99]

So I was able to get some work done yesterday. It may not seem like a lot but it was a good step forward. I got the trunk floor secured down, learned how to work with a new tool, and also made a bracket to support the floor under the battery racks. Let's take a look.

Going to start getting the floor attached and anchored to the trunk floor. I don't want to screw it to the metal because i want the ability to be able to remove it, especially while I'm in the building process, but I may need to in the future as well.

So I started by masking off the edge of the amp rack, so I could have something to write on.

I took my measurements, and wrote them on the tape, and then put the wood floor back in place. Measured out on that, and then drilled out the holes all the way through the metal.

After that I had to widen the pilot holes, to accommodate the inserts.

Using the new Quik Thread Threaded Rivet Insert Tool, I got one rivet in the hole. There is a video on this, I'm working on, and will get posted up as soon as I'm done with it, reviewing this and showing you all how to use it.

Moving on to the next hole

Got the insert in. The problem I'm having with these, and I noticed this on the second one as well, is that the threads are getting a little messed up. I don't know if this is me pulling too hard, or if I'm doing something else wrong, but I actually had to pull this one out, because the screw I put in got stuck and the insert broke loose. Then I had to break it out and start over.

Got a second one in, and here it is with the screw in it. I had to take a thread tap and clear out the threads. I'm sure, as I said, I'm doing something wrong, but I'm also a little suspect on the aluminum inserts. I think I should've bought the brass ones. I may get some more and see what that does as well. I don't think I need anymore, but I almost want to just to experiment a little bit. Moving on!

Next I drilled out the top of the board. Now I only had these screws that were 8-32 and so I just used them. They're allen head screws, and they have the big heads on them. The unfortunate part about that is I have to counter sink so far with them. I could run out and buy different ones, but these are what I have on tap, and so I just used them. They'll be fine. I also used a small washer as well, so the head of the screw wasn't the only thing holding the material down.

Got all the screws put in and secured down.

[scooter99]

Now I need to get this wing supported somehow. I had drilled a hole in there, but was very unsure as to how to really support it. Then I came up with an idea of an angle bracket with the aluminum I have.

So I took a sharpie and hit the top of the panel so I knew where to measure from.

Removed the floor and there's my line. So I needed to measure down the thickness of the floor.

So I used a piece of scrap from the floor cut out.

Did the same thing with the sharpie but on the bottom this time.

I had bought a couple of pieces of 1 1/2" angle aluminum for a different project, but I can sacrifice it for the use of this project. Cut a couple of pieces, one for each side.

Going to sit just like this. Now I need to drill it out.

Drilled the aluminum. Now I couldn't, because of the angle and tightness of that area, drill this while it was in place. So I had to drill this out, and then hold it up there, and mark for the inserts.

Go those drilled out and installed.

Then got it put on with allen head screws, much like the floor piece. Only these are shorter. Like I said I had a bunch on hand from another build I had planned. I'll most likely be using these throughout the build. I just like the look.

So now I need to get the top anchored down on this as well. I had planned to use an insert just like the rest of this. So I drilled the pilot hole.

Widened the panel and counter sunk it. Then I tried to put the insert in, and realized that the aluminum was too thick for these inserts, because it just kept popping out. SO I had to re evaluate.

I drilled another hole next to it.

Then tapped it out for the 8-32 screw.

Bam! Success!!

Put the panel in and secured it down. Now to move on to the second side.

[scooter99]

So I got both sides anchored down, but here was an issue. At the back, behind the amp rack, there's nothing to anchor too. The fuel pump is right there and I can't drill through that obviously. So, I have to figure out some way to lift these up and shim them in place.

So my first idea is to shim up where the last anchor spot is. So I took a few washers, and taped them up.

Next idea is to use some wooden inserts, and screws, and use the screws to lift the piece up. Kind of like feet on an appliance would be used to level the appliance out.

Drilled and counter sunk.

Using my bench grinder, I ground down the ends on these because they were too long. Not too long for the wood, but too long for the counter sink.

Side view.

I got them screwed in. First I did it backwards, not thinking obviously.

Got it in, and it's exactly the depth I needed. See how it's flush at the counter sink bottom.

Then realized my mistake and flipped them over and now the screws can go in.

Next the washers got CA Glued into place.

Using the screws, which I had to cut down a bit, and the washers, I was able to bring this up to where I needed it and have it be secured. Now when the enclosure is built, none of this will matter necessarily, because it will all be attached to the enclosure floor.

Now it's time to work on the other side.

I got everything set up the same way, and put the piece in place with the inserts in, but not ground off, and ended up being perfect with no screws. SO, I just left it that way. Evened them up, and now it's all good. Straight and flat.

See no screws. Worked out great.

Floor is anchored, and solid. Now it's time to deal with the battery racks.

So that's about it. As you can see on the right there, I have one of the racks in place, but not anchored. I have a couple of ideas on how to anchor it in there. Leveling the floor caused a couple of issues. For one, I have to cut out a little bit more on the top of the cubbies where the racks go, because they sit a little higher now. Not a big issue. Driver side is way worse. The passenger side fits, as you can see, but it's a tight fight. So I'll address those issues and get those anchored next.

I sent an email over to Ryan at RAM Designs, thanks Kevin for helping me out with that, and am having him look at my design and the numbers etc to see if I'm good to go. If not, I'll get a new design from him, and get to building. I don't want to have to make 3 or 4 enclosures to get things right. I want to do this once, and get it done right.

So lots to come in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

[Kyblack76]

Nice work.

Got those two sides good a level to each other. Pretty clever...

Looks great man.... looks great.

[03 Xtreme Fosgate]

got damn at the amount of work you're doing to this build. It's going to be sex for sure when you're finished,you're going to have so much gear in that trunk that you won't have to worry about anything moving anywhere. Damn nice work.

[scooter99]

Tanks guys! The compliments make it all worth it.

[goodvibez]

I like how you spend the time to make things not only look good but functional! Lookin good man keep it up!

[scooter99]

I like how you spend the time to make things not only look good but functional! Lookin good man keep it up!

Thanks. I've always wanted to make sure I could put this car back to stock. Course at the end of this, that may not be possible, but we'll see. I'm guessing nothing a couple rivets and some deadener couldn't fix right lol!